The Chinese government has pledged to speak to the Dalai Lama's representatives after weeks of vilifying the Tibetan spiritual leader and accusing his followers of terrorism.

Foreign governments had pressed the authorities to reopen dialogue following last month's riots in Lhasa and unrest across Tibetan areas of China.

But the Tibetan government-in-exile and Tibet experts greeted the announcement with caution. More than two decades of intermittent discussions between the sides have made little progress.

"In view of the requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming talks, the relevant department of the central government will have contact and consultation with Dalai's private representative in the coming days," the official Xinhua news agency said, quoting an unidentified official.

The Dalai Lama's office said it had received no word from Beijing over the proposed meeting.

"His holiness has said from March 10 that he has been making efforts to reach out to the Chinese people and the leadership because he feels the only way to resolve the issue is through face-to-face dialogue," Tenzin Taklha, a spokesman for the Dalai Lama, said.

He added that such a meeting would be a "positive step in the right direction".

But Samdhong Rimpoche, prime minister of the government-in-exile, told the Associated Press: "The present circumstances in Tibet do not appear to be an appropriate platform for a meaningful dialogue."

Lodi Gyari, the Dalai Lama's chief negotiator, had said that back-channel communications were continuing despite the unrest but were not encouraging. This week he described the situation in Tibet as "very explosive."

The two sides have had six rounds of talks, which broke off last year with Tibetans reporting a markedly tougher stance by their Chinese counterparts.

Beijing has always said it was willing to talk to the Dalai Lama if he recognised Tibet as part of China and renounced violence. "It is hoped that through contact and consultation, the Dalai side will take credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China, stop plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic games so as to create conditions for talks."

The announcement comes weeks after the Communist party boss of Tibet described the Dalai Lama as "a jackal in monk's robes" and officials accused his followers of plotting suicide attacks. The Dalai Lama denies the allegations and says he has never advocated violence.

The news was welcomed by overseas governments and the European commission president, José Manuel Barroso, speaking after a meeting with the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, described it as "encouraging".

In a separate development, the head of Interpol warned that protests along the Olympic torch relay route, as well as Chinese claims to have foiled terrorist plots, meant that violence was a real possibility at the Beijing games in August. "When thwarted attacks are coupled with the recent violent protests viewed by us all worldwide, prudence requires us to recognise the real possibility that groups and individuals could carry on their protests at the actual games," said Ron Noble.

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